Online tyre retailer CarTyres.com will provide its customers with fitting choices from e-commerce platform, epyx’s 1link Service Network of 18,000 franchise dealers, national garage chains, independent garages and fast fit centres – including 317 Halfords Autocentres. IT solutions provider epyx specialises in the automotive sector, with 1link products helping to improve the efficiency of major fleets and their suppliers. This covers functions such as vehicle procurement, maintenance, hire, disposals and relicensing. Its best-known products are the 1link e-commerce platforms.

Managed by an experienced online tyre industry team, CarTyres is led by Chris Grant, who has held senior positions with KwikFit and General Motors, and has developed online tyre platforms for several wholesalers and retailers.

He said: “Around 12 per cent of tyre buyers in the £12.5 billion UK market are now choosing online as their purchasing route and this figure is expected to double within the next couple of years. Because of this, the CarTyres online offering, allied to 1link Service Network, provides a very timely and convincing proposition.

“This is especially good news for franchise and independent dealers and garages within 1link Service Network who have, for many years, lost business to national fitting chains.

“Many – perhaps the majority – of motorists believe that tyres are not available through their local dealer at extremely competitive online prices. We are aiming to change that perception.”

David Goodyear, commercial director at epyx, said: “We’re excited to be working with CarTyres. The people behind the company are very experienced in the industry and their concept is compelling for both the consumer and the 1link garage and dealer network.

“The additional business benefits available to our network from engaging more easily with tyre consumers through CarTyres.com is potentially considerable in terms of new and sustainable revenue.”

1link has been adopted by fleets totalling a parc of two and a half million vehicles, around 18,000 service providers, and motor manufacturers on behalf of their franchise dealer networks.